Rotatably released electric plug



y 1951 H. F. L|N.D$AY 2,551,382

ROTATABLY RELEASED ELECTRIC PLUG Original Filed June 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor y 1951 v H. F. LINDSAY 2,551,382

I ROTATABLY RELEASED ELECTRIC PLUG I Original Filed June 12, 1945 2'SheetsSheet 2 Inventor WW E M516 Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- ROTATABLY RELEASED ELECTRIC PLUG Herbert F. Lindsay, Los Alamos, N. Mex.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

598,990, June 12, 1945. ary 17, 1950, Serial N0. 138,975

4 Claims. (01'. 173-361) This invention relates to an improved electrica connector plug, and one of its objects is to provide an electrical plug, which is coupled in circuit connecting position, by a push operation. with means for releasing the plug by turning an outer sleeve arranged to develop a pulling action upon the connector prongs of the plug.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector plug, with a prong carrying core of insulation arranged to slide in a body sleeve, and a second sleeve swivelled to the core and having helical bearing on the body sleeve, so that the core will be pulled in the body sleeve when the second or outer sleeve is manually turned on the inner or body sleeve.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain new and useful constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following specification, and fully illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig, 1 is a vertical sectional view, through the complete plug, in normal assembled condition.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, taken at right angles thereto, showing the outer sleeve partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on lines 33 of Fig.1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, showing the outer sleeve separated from the inner sleeve, in a modified construction.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view, showing a modified construction, which includes three connector prongs, or the type required in certain electrical U service work.

Fig. 6 is a similar view, showing a four keywa'y construction. a

Fig. '7 is a detail perspective view, on a reduced scale, of a two piece sleeve combination, show- This application Janu- The core 1 is constructed of insulating material, in whichthe prong connector elements 8 and 9 are embedded at their inner ends. A tube ii) of insulating material is positively connected to the center of the core or plug 1, and the electrical conductor cord .ll extends through the tube It) and its circuit wires I2 and 13 are connected with the prongs 8 and S, at the inner end of the tube l0.

The outer end of the body sleeve 5 is provided with an end wall l4, "and a coil spring I5 is placed around the tube I 0 and bears at its inner end against the core or plug 1, and at its outer end against the end wall l4. 7

An outer sleeve I6 is mounted toturn on the body sleeve 5, and is provided with an end wall I1, which turns on the tube in, and is held against relative endwise movement to the tube by the collars l8 and 19, which are cemented or otherwise positively connected to the outer end of the tube ID, on opposite sides of the end wall IT.

.This assembly provides a swivel connection bethe inclined internal teeth 2i of the outer sleeve fwill slide along the inclined or helical external teeth. 20 of the body sleeve, thereby pulling the core or plug I in the bore of the body sleeve, which ,wm place the coil spring 15 under compression, "and pull the connector prongs 8 and 9 from circuit connecting relation with the conductor elements of a receptacle.

The an le of inclination or the lead of the helical teeth, is such that a short turning effort will produce the required longitudinal sliding movement of the core or plug in the body sleeve, and thereby detach the connector prongs from circuit coupling engagement with the corresponding elements of a receptacle. Due to the fact that the outer sleeve is swivelled on the central tube, no twisting action is induced on the connector prongs.

In Fig. 4 I show an inner sleeve 30, having helical end teeth 3|, engaged by the helical end teeth 32a of the sleeve cap 32. In this construction the sleeve 30 and the sleeve cap 32 are of the same cylindrical diameter.

In Fig. 5 I show an inner body sleeve 35, which is formed with an octagonal inner wall surface 36, which is engaged by the core or plug 31, also of octagonal construction. This core or plug 31 is equipped with three connector prongs 38, 39 and 40, and the central operating tube 4|.

In Fig. 5 the outer sleeve 42 is mounted to turn on the body sleeve 35, to operate the tube and plug.

In Fig. 6 the body sleeve 50 is formed with integral key ribs 5!, whichslidably engage the keyways 52 of the plug or core 53, which is provided with a central tube 54, fixed thereto at its inner end. An outer sleeve 55 turns on the body sleeve 50 to propel the central 'tube 54 and the plug or core 53.

In Fig. 7 I show an outer cylinder 60, having helical teeth 6| on its inner end which are designed to engage the outer helical teeth 62 of the inner cylinder 63.

In Fig. 8 I show another similar arrangement, the outer cylinder 64 being formed with inner helical teeth 64a, and the inner cylinder 65 being formed with outer helical teeth 66.

In Fig. 9 I show another modified arrangement, wherein the outer cylinder 61 is provided with irmer helical teeth 68, which engage the outer helical teeth 69 of the cylinder Ill.

In these three last-named views, the helical teeth are disposed at different angles or pitches.

It is understood that any form of helical tooth construction, or helical screw thread construction, may be employed between the operating or movable sleeve and the inner or stationary body sleeve. pitch a firmly coupled .pair of connector prongs may be readily displaced from circuit coupling position, without subjecting the conductor cord or connector prongs to a twisting action, and without displacing the end co'nnectionsof the circuit wires of the cord, so as to produce a crossed wire condition, with a resulting short circuit, and the accompanying fire hazards.

The invention provides an electrical push plug with means for disconnecting the plug, by a turning operation instead of a pulling operation, and therefore provides a push-turn-plug.

I claim:

'1. An electrical connector plug, consisting of a main body sleeve, a plug arranged to slide in the main sleeve and keyed therein against relative rotation, a tube connected at its inner end to the plug, connector prongs carried by the plug and projecting endwise thereof, an electrlcal conductor cord having circuit wires connected with the prongsand a sleeve swivelled on the tube and turning on the main body sleeve and having means to produce an endwise movernent of the last-named sleeve when said last- 4 for this purpose.

By using screw threads or low main body sleeve, a tube connected at its inner end with the plug and means connecting the tube to the second sleeve for swivel movement of the sleeve on the tube.

3. An electrical connector plug, consisting of a main body sleeve, a plug sliding therein and keyed thereto against relative rotation, connector prongs having inner ends secured in the plug and outer ends projecting therefrom, said main body sleeve having an integral end wall, a second sleeve mounted to turn on the main body sleeve and having a swivel connection with the outer end of the tube, means between the second sleeve and the main body sleeve for causing the second sleeve to move endwise on the main body sleeve when the second sleeve is turned thereon, and a coil spring between the plug and the end wall of the main body sleeve.

4. In combination, a main body sleeve, a plug slidable therein and keyed against relative rotation in the sleeve, conductor prongs having inner ends secured in the plug, a tube connected centrally to the plug, the main body sleeve having anendwall, a coiled spring located between said plug and said endwall around said tube, an outer sleeve mounted to turn on the main body sleeve and provided with an endwall having swivel connection with the tube, and means between the inner wall surface of the outer sleeve and the outer wall surface of the main body sleeve adapted to cause the outer sleeve and the tube to move endwise on the main body sleeve when the outer sleeve is turned thereon, whereby the plug will be caused to slide in the main body sleeve to disengage the conductor prongs from coupling with an electrical receptacle.

HERBERT F. LINDSAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,897,323 Moorhouse Feb. 14, 1935 2,051,425 Schlums Aug. 18, 1936 2,161,353 I-Iummel June 6, 1939 

